Model News

From Ralph Hanley
[We are grateful to Train Miniature as a source for some of this news]

Manufacturers

Roco have now settled down into their new workshops and have essentially caught up on their backlog of orders. Benelux items in their Autumn International Collection are:
NS Class 2200 Diesel # 63927 [HO]
Set of two CFL Hopper wagons # 66330 [HO]
SNCB swivel roof wagon # 47539 [HO]
SNCB flat wagon # 47751[HO] OsKar has got into financial trouble and is now filing for bankruptcy. Whether this will develop into a “Lima” situation has yet to be seen.
The last months have seen several new SNCB releases, these are:LS Models have announced the release of their HO scale Dms Fourgon in two versions:
LS 42004 in White livery with two “Velo” logos
LS 42006 in Railtour III [Orange] liveryJocadis are advertising future manufacture of their earlier AM 66 emus for 2005 in 9 HO scale versions in either digital or analogy. These are planned to be:
AM 665 Green livery with 2 pantos or AM 651 with 1 panto
AM 653 Bordeaux livery “Fumeurs” or AM 691 with 1 panto
AM 597 & AM 855 “SABENA” livery or AM 598 “Airport Express”
AM 765 “New Look” livery, and
AM 596 Bordeaux ex Sabena livery
In addition Jocadis are selling a two set HO scale “Railtrans” closed wagons by Tiho, now often seen on the SNCB network.Roco have expanded their SNCB Memling coach range with a new 1st class coach, ref 45504 at around €48.Treinshop Olaerts plan to increase their range of “custom” models with two HO scale versions of the Serie 4500 railcar. One version is in Blue /Cream [“Ice cream”] livery, whilst the other is in Red / Cream livery. These are due for release in September. The price has a bit of an “ouch factor” from €298 to €415, depending upon the model. Treinshop Olaerts are also selling Marklin HO scale Fals covered wagons [5 set], and collis covered wagons [4 set], refs # 92234 and 94236 respectively.
Not to be outdone, Sachsenmodelle have made a set of 3 immediate post war SNCB 3rd class coaches in Green livery, based on the ex DR coaches.
And finally on the new releases, Fleischmann have produced a set of 4 HO scale SNCB coaches of the 1920’s period in Green livery. [At that time these were ex KPEV “les Chemins de fer Prussiens” handed over as war compensation]. The set comprises of: 1 Fourgon, 2 x 2nd class and 1 x 3rd class coaches.Klein Modellbahn has presented several HO scale SNCB / NMBS wagons, these are
A flat bed “B Cargo” with container,
An eight wheeled closed wagon with opening side doors,
Open wagon type “E” # 01.88.501.8.275-1
Open four wheeled wagon type “E” caboose # 01.88.501.8.333-8.
[The last two only available from Van Biervliet of Ingelmunster].
Although Marklin have abandoned their Belgian office, they are still producing SNCB / NMBS models. Their latest are:
“Sunoco” 4 wheeled HO tank car # 441.811
“Petrus” 4 wheeled HO tank car # 444.810 [both only available from Van Biervliet of Ingelmunster].
“Strukton Railfina” Diesel MaK 1206 [HO] as seen on the SNCB / NMBS, # 37658, [Trix version # 22319]
Set “Strukton” four wheeled HO tank cars # 48545Rietze have expanded their autobus range, and now have a HO scale articulated “De Lijn” liveried bus.

Model Shop Directory

The BRS “Model Shop Directory” has been updated with many changes. The update is based on some member’s visits together with advertisements in recent issues of “Rail Hobby” and “Train Miniature”. Shops have been deleted if there has been no advertisement during the last 12 months. The updated Directory is now available on the BRS website, or alternatively “hard” copies are available from Phil Colton at £3.50 [to cover printing and postage costs]. Members are advised to telephone a shop before making a special visit, to confirm it is still in business, and its opening hours.

Fleming Park Eurotrack 2004

By Ralph Hanley
This year it was the turn of the Solent Model railway Group to host the annual Eurotrack Association Exhibition. The main attraction was a combined international layout built by Austrian, Belgian, Dutch, French, German, Italian and English Societies, which filled a large part of the Exhibition. This produced some unusual workings of a Southern Region Q1 steaming towards Rotterdam Europoort, or a TEE set travelling through the Meon valley. Co-ordination between the Societies was a bit erratic, resulting in several “shunts” between the various workings. Continental layouts were:
Ulvik [HO] - a small coastal town in Norway
Zevendal [HO] - by Tom Nicholls detailing the rail yards and docks of Zutphen and Deventer
Ainsa [N] - a small Spanish Aragon region layout
Scourmont [Z] - showing a small Ardennes village,
Kunze Brucke [HO] - Chris Peters “German” based layout for flexible working,
Colditz Ost Bruck [N] - operated by Paul Hannant, based around River Mulde.
Societies represented were: Austrian, BRS, MAVOE Seged, SNCF, and Scandinavian. Traders had a fairly quiet time, and the two French traders could hardly have had their travel expenses covered. Winco were absent, being on vacation, but were “replaced” by three model shops from the Southampton area. In all a worthwhile exhibition to visit.

CFL News

From Ralph Hanley
The Luxembourg Preservation Society [GAR] ran a special on the Luxembourg National day consisting of Wegmann coaches hauled by 3600 Class 3608. This ran from Luxembourg to Paris Est, and was the first, [and probably last time] a Class 3600 is to be seen in Paris.
As reported earlier, the existing Wegmann coaches are all being phased out and replaced by the new two level coaches. Any member interested in buying a Wegmann should consult the CFL Internet!
The first double-deck TER2N NG [Regional Express new generation train with 2 levels] are now in service, generally on the Gouvy - Luxembourg - Metz routes. Initially 12 of these 3 coach sets will be in service.
A question was asked earlier as to what VSFT [on a ‘photo taken at Wasserbillig] meant. These are four diesel locomotives hired by the CFL for shunting duties. VSFT is the name of the manufacturer. Brief details are: Bogies B-B, max speed 100 Kph, weight 80 tonne, length overall 14,130 mm, tractive effort 1,100 kW. All four locomotives arrived in June / July this year.
The remaining Class 3600 electrics are still occasionally seen on the network. No. 3608 was seen working a “special” at Rodange in September. Also in September, preserved CFL steam locomotive No. 5519 made 3 round trips hauling a freight train between Bettembourg and Belval Usines.

SNCB News

From Ralph Hanley
Some of the redundant De Poste rail cars have found a new service, which is as a tool and parts storehouse. The first of these is at the Mechelen workshops.
When the new Benelux trains are in service in 2007, the SNCB plan to reassign the 11 current NS Pilot Coaches for regional services. Besides the series 11, these Pilot coaches are “compatible” with series 12, 21 and 27 engines, but not with the NS series 1700 - 1800.SNCB 6324 was called into service to haul a DB ICE from Forest-Midi to Aachen. The ICE unit had problems with its pantographs.
Since June the ICE3 units have been authorised to travel on Ligne 2 between Leuven and Ath. Maximum speed is restricted to 250 kph, [as the Foucault electromagnetic braking is not always effective on the SNCB network - this is necessary for speeds of 300 kph].
Four of the type 96 SNCB services from Bruxelles to Luxembourg have been replaced by the new M6 two deck coaches hauled by a series 20 electric. However in the current absence of Pilot coaches, CFL shunters are required to enable the series 20 to “run around” the M6 stock.
In line with the SNCB all Thalys services are now non-smoking.
Following several protests, SNCB have agreed to maintain their “hard copy” version of the Timetable for another year. The decision to further retain the timetable will be made next year, so it is possible that the timetable will be maintained on a year-by-year basis.
For the first 6 months of this year B-Cargo has seen a 3.7 % increase in tonnage transported.
Since July the closed Sourbrodt to Kalterherberg section of the Vennbahn has seen an influx of new traffic, but before getting too excited, this is of the two-wheel variety. This section has now been converted into a tourist bicycle trail.
SNCB are now testing the electrified Libramont to Bertrix section of ligne # 165 ready for changing to electrified motive power.
The 150th anniversary of the Kortrijk to Poperinge line was celebrated by a steam hauled [#29.013] special with historic K and L coaches.
The new service Jan Kiepura from Bruxelles to Moscow is now fully operational, as of mid June. The formation is a mixture of PKP [couchettes, first class and restaurant], Russian and Belarus [sleeping cars] stock with the logo “Jan Kiepura” on the PKP coaches.
Eurostar coaches have started to be revamped; the first set 3219 / 3220 appearing early September. From the ‘photos it seems that the seating is still relatively cramped, with the revamp mainly on new upholstery.
As from 11th December the Vauban EC 90 will terminate at Brig instead of Milan. New timings are: dep Bruxelles 07.01, arr Brig 17.11, dep Brig 10.13, arr Bruxelles 19.45. Presumably it will no longer have FS stock!
The new Jean Monet will now be extended from Strasbourg to Basle (except weekends).
The last K4 coaches are planned to be withdrawn by 12th December.
The SNCB are in negotiations with the CFL to buy the latter's 3000 series, these may be sold due to the introduction of the new TER 2N NG railcars and international freight now diverting to the Aubange - Mont St Martin connection.

New Books

“Sur les Rails D’Ardennes et de Gaume” [French Text] by Pascal Dumontand Olivier Ceernick, published by Editions du Cabri price €39. This is a collection of ‘photos of this area, and the book is available from PFT at €39 plus €5.90 p&p. [PFT is at Boite Postale 40, B-7000 Mons. E-Mail “pftsp@hotmail.com]

Dutch Tram & Light Railway News

GVB – Amsterdam

Infrastructure
The extension to Metro line 51 in Amstelveen came into use on 13 September with 3 new stops: Spinnerij, Sacharovlaan and Westwijk. On the same day a new timetable came into force on all metro lines.
On 17th August the overhead lines above route 12 came down onto a tram at the junction of Bilderdijkstraat and De Clerqstraat. The cable remained live for around an hour during which time passengers could not leave the tram, neither could a taxi driver whose vehicle had also come into contact with the cable. The GVB has launched an investigation.
Rolling stock
During the high summer service all of the stored (serviceable) cars were pressed into service.
Low floor trams
916 entered service on 04/08 following overhaul with a new white/blue livery and remodelled cab.
Combino
Cars numbered up to 2147 (correction). Cars 2001 – 2090, 2092 – 2098, 2201 – 2204 are allocated to Havenstraat while 2099 – 2147 live at Lekstraat.
2148 – 2151 remain in Krefeld (D). Test car 2091 has been moved from Krefeld to Düsseldorf where new bogies will be fitted prior to delivery to Amsterdam. The problem of wheel noise has been mitigated by a new type of damper.
GVB has come to an agreement to improve the build of the Combino cars. The discovery of hairline cracks currently necessitates inspection every 120,000 km. The modifications will push that limit to 195,000 km
Queen Beatrix
When Queen Beatrix is staying overnight at the Palace on Dam trams on route 14 are diverted via NZ Voorburgwal, Martelaarsgracht and Prins Hendrikkade to the Damrak and Rokin because the screeching of wheel upon rail keeps the Queen and her guests awake.

HTM – Den haag

Tram tunnel
The Haagse Tram tunnel will be at capacity by 2007 a report suggests. With RandstadRail there will be more trams per hour than the tunnel will be able to handle. At its inception in 1993 only city trams were to use the tunnel. The tunnel opened on 16th October with official ceremonies taking place at 10.00 the same day.
100 years electric tram
On the same day as the opening of the tram tunnel celebrations were held in the city to mark 100 years of electric trams. The highlight of the day was a procession of historic and contemporary cars. Photos cars be seen at www.xs4all.nl/~rweterin/optocht/index.htm
HTM to buy 19 PCC cars
HTM are to buy 19 ex-Marseille (F) PCC cars, not to use in service but to provide bogies for the existing cars. The bogies are identical to those on the GTL cars which are suffering from hairline cracks. One problem is that the Marseille cars contain asbestos, which the HTM would have to deal with when scrapping the bodies. 2 Marseille PCC cars will remain in France for possible museum use.
Changes to route numbers
From the middle of December a new service will be introduced along with changes to route numbers. Route numbers up to 20 will be reserved for tram routes. Tram route 4 will become bus route 24 as an experiment.

RET – Rotterdam

Citadis delivery
Cars numbered up to 2059 have been delivered, although 2060 has yet to arrive. 2050 has returned from France with new motors and bogies and has been load tested over various routes. 2001 remains with Alsthom in France. The option on 4 extra cars will now not be taken. RET will be changing all wheels on the Citadis cars because of tread damage which is covered by the manufacturers warranty.
Carnisselandlijn
On 22/09 the RET began testing on the Carnisselandlijn (tram route 25). On this day car 2007 was used on a 6-hour test trip while on the following day 10 cars were used to simulate a 6-minute service between Gaesbeekstraat and Carnisselande. On 27/09 a test with a 700 series car was successful. Driver training began on 09/10 and the line opened to the public on 25/10. The official opening took place on 02/11. Route 25 runs: Centraal Station, Weena, Hofplein, Coolsingel, Schiedamsedijk, Erasmusbrug, Laan op Zuid, 2e Rosestraat, Beijerlandselaan, Randweg, Bree, Groene Hilledijk, Dordtsestraatweg, Slinge, Langenhorst, Vrijenburgerbos, Avenue Carnisse and Waterkant. The route is 12 km long and has 22 stops. Total journey time is about 30 minutes and the RET expect 9.1 million passengers a year to use the line.

Dutch Railway News

Rolling Stock

Nederlandse Spoorwegen

Class 1300

NS-R has come to an agreement with ACTS over the disposal of the remaining locos of the class stored at Roosendaal to scrap at HKS at Amsterdamse Westhaven. The trains will run via Rotterdam Noord Goederen where the SSN depot will remove the compressors and pantographs for use on ACTS 1200’s. The first trip ran from Roosendaal on 13/09 with 1306 & 1310. Two days later both locos arrived at Amsterdam. Brake force was provided by 4 vehicles from Herik Rail plus a class 67 from ACTS. The cabs of the scrapped locos are removed from HKS by road. 1315 has gone to Werkgroep 1501. 1302 is a museum loco.
Other locos were disposed of thus . . .
27/09: 1305 + 1309
08/10: 1311 + 1313
19/10: 1301 + 1307

Class 1700

The first heavy overhauls (LT1) of this class have begun with 1776 and 1768 and will include replacement of the most important components such as ATB receiver and compressor switches.

VIRM

‘Extended’ sets delivered (Old numbers in brackets): 8615 (8415); 8621 (8421); 8632 (8432); 8633 (8433) & 8665 (8465)
‘New-build’ sets delivered: 8733; 8734; 8735; 8736; 8737 & 9426
On 10/09 a fire in the body end cupboard of set 9401 at Ede-Wageningen caused considerable damage to mBvk 290 8579. During the rescue operation the train crew were treated for minor injuries. MBvk 290 8579 will be replaced with 290 8571 and ABv6 380 8301 with 380 8316.
Set 84030 has been fitted with better cab heating following complaints from drivers about cold feet during the winter months. Heating elements have been placed under the floor in the foot well.
Set 8728 was severely damaged in a collision with NMBS 2554 at Roosendaal on 30/09. The VIRM was working train 2163 to Vlissingen and collided with 2554 as light loco 44853 Gent – Kijfhoek on the line towards Essen (B). 8728 went to Haarlem for repair.

SGM Sprinter

Units have returned from Randers (DK) (Old numbers in brackets): 2952 (2852); 2953 (2853); 2955 (2855); 2956 (2856); 2957 (2857) & 2958 (2858).
Unit 2029 has been selected as a test bed for a CCTV monitoring system which transmits images and sound to a central control via 3G (UMTS) mobile ‘phone technology. The unit will be trialled on the Zoetermeerlijn.
During the autumn period Sprinters will have the electro-dynamic brake isolated and will use air brake instead to allow full use of the Wheel Slip protection.

ICM

The test runs with 4082 ran throughout September with brake tests between Roermond and Horst-Sevenum. 4077 was used between Onnen – Eindhoven in October during which trials at 160 km/h were also carried out.
In addition to 4051, 4062 and 4084, sanders have been fitted to 4211. These units will be used on dedicated diagrams working trains in the series 9100 and 7000.
Unit 4001 has been moved to Arnhem for used as a Fire Brigade/Police exercise unit while 4004 has gone to Bergen-op-Zoom where it was loaded onto low-loaders for movement to the military base at Ossendrecht for military training on its own little bit of track complete with signal and level crossing!

Plan V

The green unit 416 failed an inspection by the Transport ministry (similar to our HMRI) following its return to the old livery. The inspectors insisted that if the unit is to run as the leading unit on a train then a light coloured 1m square is applied to the front of the unit. This was done on 18/19 September.
Units 404 & 432 were taken for scrap in Maastricht by RaiLion, 405 & 407 went on 22/09, 430 & 438 went on 29/09 followed by 713 and 414 + 421 on 06/10; 411 + 429 on 20/10 and 413 + 434 on 27/10.
The asbestos removal from the mat ’64 was completed in the middle of October.
From the new stock working of February 2005, 5 trains will be strengthened with an extra 2 car Plan V. Trains 8816; 6331; 7123; 4422 and 14320 will convey an extra 2 car. In order to make this possible, units 441, 443, 444, 445 and 452 will remain in service longer.

Plan U

On 04/10 RaiLion loco 6420 took Plan U 119 from Amersfoort to Ob Zwolle for refurbishment for a possible foreign buyer. The disposal of Plan U’s began on 15th November with units going to Houben/Dotremont in Maastricht. The first is 128.

Plan W

Coaches 21-27 458 & 465 which were on the Military base at Gilze-Rijen for exercises were moved to Maastricht on 10/09 for scrap along with 21-37 451 from Roosendaal and 21-37 455, 457 and 472.

ICK

From 12/12 the ICK- sets in series 1900 and 2500 will no longer remain in fixed formation. From this date the vehicles will be marshalled in threes (B+A+B) and twos (B+BD) and will, in principle, remain together and will go for maintenance together. The maximum formation in a train will be 3 x 3 cars + 2 x 2 cars. Between the peaks 3 x 3 will be marshalled together.

New Timetable

The new timetable begins on 12 December with a new station at Almere Oostvaarders on the Flevolijn. The services between Amsterdam and Alkmaar and Gouda and Utrecht have been altered.

Gouda – Alphen a/d Rijn

There have been problems with the operation of the light rail service between Gouda and Alphen a/d Rijn. Crew shortages and rolling stock defects have lead to cancellations. On 19/08 and 24/08 so many cars were out of service conventional 2 car Sprinters were used to cover services. A strike by drivers lead to Plan T units 518 being used on 6 trains. It is not permitted to run conventional trains while trams are running because of the risk of collision.

Ob Zwolle

NedTrain has announced that Zwolle works will close at the end of 2005, with the loss of 46 jobs, because of the reduced maintenance required on new trains. The wheel lathe will remain open and freight vehicles will still be maintained here until the beginning of 2007. Some body makers and painters will be moved to Amsterdam and Hengelo.

Trains in the Autumn

NS has made preparations for the autumn service with more wheel slip protection (WSP) trials on Sprinters and ICM units and the fitting of SmartSander sanding equipment to ICM's. On sections where few trains are formed with modern stock carrying WSP gear sandite will be applied (particularly in the North and West of the country) and in particularly bad areas hand applied traction gel “Handite”. Drivers are being given vehicle specific driving instructions depending on the prevailing conditions.
NedTrain has opened its 6th wheel lathe at Eindhoven which can turn 130 pairs of wheels per day, seven days per week 24 hours a day. LAWS (Low Adhesion Warning System) has been fitted to a number of units to warn of poor railhead conditions.

Private operators

ACTS

The 3rd class 58, 5813 (ex 58038) has arrived in the Netherlands.
ACTS hired PB01 & PB02 from ShortLines at the end of September for extra Veendam shuttles until the Class 58s come into service.
For the first time in ACTS history a brand new loco has been delivered on 05/11. Loco 506 (works number 2004/5001506) is a G1206 similar to those of ERS and R4C. It was in service on 07/11 between IJsselmonde and Roosendaal.
A new twice-weekly flow of sugar began in October between Veendam and Roodenschoolse Eemshaven using a Class 66.

ERS Railways

All the class 66s have been renumbered so that PB07 – PB11 have become 6601-6605. All locos have received new liveries and numbers with 6610 having a special ERS 10 year anniversary livery.

Euregiobahn

On 11/09 services between Heerlen via Aachen Hbf (D) to Stolberg Hbf (D) will split at Stolberg Hbf: one portion will run to Echweiler Weisweiler (D) while the other runs to Stolberg Altstadt.

RaiLion

NMBS / SNCB Class 77
Between 22/09 and 04/10 NMBS/SNCB drivers learned the route between Roosendaal and de Sloegebied with Class 77 locos in readiness a flow for Ford cars trains.
BR189 arrives in the Netherlands
On 01/10 the first of the new BR189 locos arrived for testing. 189 989 ran tests with one coach.
Class 66
RaiLion introduced Class 66 on the Opel cars trains from Emmerich (D) to Antwerpen (B) in the middle of October. The locos EC2 (RaiLion number 266 452), EC3 (266 453) have been in Tilburg works since late 2003. Their home depot is Roosendaal. The trains run from Germany with the class 66 to Nijmegen where the Belgian RaiLion loco takes over.
Five new locos (ER6 – ER10) have been in Tilburg works since the beginning of November.
EC3 has gone to Rail4Chem and carries the number 66.020.

ShortLines

SL1001 and SL1002 have been taken to Dordrecht Zeehaven for Volker Stevin Rail & Traffic.
Rail4Chem and ShortLines run a joint service to Worms (D) and Duisburg (D) and R4C has taken over much of ShortLines internal traffic (This short email was received from Henk Hartsuiker on 28th October: Here's some news only two weeks old. I don't know whether you have already heard but ShortLines is in liquidation and has been taken over by Rail4Chem. Ed)

Infrastructure

Signalling Maintenance on Zoetermeerlijn

The annual signalling maintenance work on the Zoetermeerlijn to place in October with trains running only clockwise from 11 to 15 October then only anti-clockwise from 18-22 October.

Rust clearing trains

RaiLion have made an accord with ProRail to run Rust-clearing trains. Sections of line and points that have only occasional use must have at least 20 axles pass over them at least once per day to prove the track circuits. Normally this is done using freight trains but as freight traffic has become more time sensitive trains cannot slow down to, in some cases, 40 km/h. Agreement has been reached that block trains conveying dangerous goods, through international trains and other time critical trains would not be used for rust clearance. Other trains that would be used for clearance would only be used with permission. It is hoped to reach a similar accord with NS-R.

HSL-Zuid

One of the bridge supports that carries the HSL over the Hollandse Diep between Dordrecht and Lage Zwaluwe was found to have sunk. Remedial work has been carried out and there appears to be no further movement.

Betuweroute

In mid-September Rotterdam harbour authority made it known that it is interested in operating the Betuweroute. Transport minister Peijs has already given the mandate, together with ProRail, for investigation into the operating costs of the route. It is not known whether the harbour authorities will be able to finance the venture alone or will seek partners.
On 1st May the section between the Sophiatunnel and Gorinchem was ready for testing. This section is electrified at 25kV. Work on the Betuweroute connection between Zevenaar and the German border meant that, on 2nd & 3rd October, ICE’s were diverted via‘s-Hertogenbosch and Venlo. The work did not finish on time and until midday on 04/10 many points were still clipped and signals signed out of use. Trains were diverted via Bentheim and Venlo.
The possibility of running passenger trains of the Betuweroute is being investigated according to Transport minister Peijs who is attempting to justify the cost of building the line. However, the route was not designed for passenger traffic, only to connect Rotterdam with Germany and will convey dangerous goods and wagons containing bulk products that currently run through built up areas.

Belgian Railway News

Class 11.8

With the ending of Benelux services in 2007 the class 11.8 Benelux locos with replace the class 25.5 on freight traffic into the Netherlands.

Class 12

From 12/12 this class with be able to run in multiple with SNCF 36000 class locos to allow complete integration of workings thus extending the range of both classes. The new service will see locos working to Aulnoye; Fréthun; Grande Synthe; Lille Déliverance, and Somain in France and Antwerpen (Noord, Lillo and Zandvliet), Châtelet, Gent, Kinkempois, Monceau, Montzen, Muizen and Ronet in Belgium. Kortrijk drivers will begin driver training at the end of the year. As a result of this change SNCF 67400 locos will be used between Quévy and Mons. The SNCF have requested test trips onto the NS network to allow through trains from Lille (F) to Kijfhoek (NL).

Class 22

The North Korean railways are interested in locos from this class; however opinion suggests that the locos should go for scrap rather than to a country like North Korea.

Class 25.5

Loco 2554 collided with a DD-IRM set at Roosendaal on 30/09 causing damage to both the loco and unit.

Class 21/27

Nineteen of this class are to be used for push-pull duties with M6 stock and new driving trailers and will be fitted with automatic couplers.
The 144 locos of the 3rd generation (Classes 11.8, 12, 21 & 27) will be fitted with air conditioning. 2125 has already been fitted with an experimental unit.

Class 45

Unit 4501 is to be converted to a departmental unit. 4510 is kept at St. Ghislain with a water tank for use in Fire Brigade activities at Tertre.

Class 51

Locos 5104; 5165 and 5182 departed for Italy in the middle of September. All remaining locos of this class that were at Antwerpen have now gone to Montzen.

Class 59

The remainder of this fleet have been scrapped at Luxfer at Aubagne (L)

Class 62

Class 76

The remainder of this fleet have been scrapped at Luxfer at Aubagne (L) with the exception of 7608 and 7618 which have gone to the Netherlands).

Class 77

Locos numbered up to 7849 have been delivered. NMBS/SNCB are looking for a small class of more powerful locos and rumours have it that an upgraded version of the class 77 is being considered.

EMU

AM’96 units 501-524 are to be fitted with the Luxembourg safety system CFL-Memor. These units are allocated to Stokem and work the Brussel / Bruxelles – Luxembourg IC trains.

Coaching stock

The second phase of the 70 x M6 coaches has been ordered from Bombardier in conjunction with Alsthom who are building the driving trailers at a cost of €179m. There will be 19 x 1st Cl; 19 AB (composite); and 32 driving trailers. This will compliment the existing 210 M6 coaches already in service.

New Timetable

The winter timetable comes into effect on 12/12 when Schelle station will reopen for the first time in 20 years as will Chenée. The DB ICE will run over the HSL2 high-speed line instead of the slower line 36. EC295/296 “Jean Monnet” Brussel/Bruxelles – Strasbourg (F) will run through to Basel (CH). Train 295 runs Sunday – Friday (17.32 from Brussels) and 296 arrives in Belgium Monday – Saturday (arriving Brussels at 12.43). It is formed of 2 x I6 and 1 x I10 of the NMBS/SNCB. EC90/91 "Vauban” Brussel / Bruxelles – Milano Centrale (I) will terminate at Brig (CH). This train will run daily but will be formed with 5 x I11 and 1 x I6 coaches instead of the Italian vehicles. EC96/97 “Iris” is not altered but is the last ‘exotic’ train between Brussels and Luxembourg. It will be formed of 6 SBB coaches.
IC-I Charkeroi – Antwerpen will become double deck M6 stock and will be retimed to connect with the L-train to Roosendaal (NL)
Hauled trains on IR-k Tournai – Charleroi will become units.
From Christmas until the middle of March the weekly “Bergland Express” will run between Brussel Zuid / Bruxelles Midi and Zell am Zee (A) leaving on a Friday at 19.12 and arriving back in Brussels at 10.16 on a Sunday.
In May 2005 passenger trains will, again, use the border crossing Quévy – Aulnoye which has only served freight traffic since the opening of HSL1. This will allow direct trains between Brussels and Aulnoye.

Freight Traffic

DLC
From the end of September a new weekly container train runs between Antwerpen Kallo and Germany. It runs on Saturdays (Train Z 41511) at 10 51 and returns in the middle of the night on Thursday. From the middle of November DLC runs a train from Carlam/Arcelor in Châtelet to Antwerpen Haven as well as container traffic between Antwerpen Berendrecht and Altenschwand.
Sugar beet traffic
The sugar beet season began on 27/09
Ruisbroek (Antwerpen)
From the middle of September a new flow began to and from the Albert Malthouse at Prayon Rupel. The company has its own shunting loco and twice a week (Monday and Wednesday) about 22 silo wagons from CITA are received in the morning and collected in the afternoon.

Infrastructure

Vennbahn
At the beginning of October work began to lift some of the German section of the Vennbahn between the border crossing at Büllingen and Losheimergraben (D).
Gent – Eeklo
The planned improvements to line 58 between Gent and Wondelgem will now not go ahead on financial grounds. The main stumbling block seems to be the swing bridge at Gent Muide.

Oeps!

In the last issue the item about the “Jan Kipura” mentioned a Bulgarian coach from Minsk – this should, of course, have said Byelorussian (White Russia) not Bulgarian! From 12/12 this train will run via Liége Guillemins (Not Kinkempois) and Köln Hbf (D) and runs 25 minutes later

Belgian Tram & Light Railway News

De Lijn

Antwerpen
In June 2004 PCC 7010 came back into service after a long period out of service.
Brussel / Bruxelles
Previously mention has been made of an express service on routes 39 and 44. This is only in name – the journey times are no shorter than before!
Gent
On 1st September the extension of Route 1 from St Pietersstation to Maalte opened. A further extension to Flanders Expo will open on 16th April 2005.

50 Years Roundnoses, Odense Denmark

14th and 15th August 2004

By Rob van der Flier
During the weekend of 14th and 15th August the Danish Railway Museum celebrated 50 years of their Roundnose NOHAB Class MY 1100. This is the same design as the Belgian class 52, 53 54 (PFT/TSP use the old number scheme of class 202, loco number 020), the Luxembourg class 1600, the Hungarian class M61 and the Norwegian Class Di3.
The Danish, Norwegian and Hungarian locos were built by NoHab in Sweden, their Belgian and Luxembourg counterparts by AFB in Belgium. The NMBS and CFL roundnoses are often referred to as NoHab’s, but as can be seen this is incorrect.
In 1999 the NMBS and CFL roundnoses visited Denmark for the first time at the Randers event, where they also met the Norwegian Di3.616. This time the Danish Railway museum again invited guests from abroad. The Big Star this time was the Hungarian NoHab that came all the way from Budapest. This was sponsored not only by the Railway Museum but also by German railfan Klaus Korbacher, who paid €17,000 for this trip!!!!! At his stand at Odense there was a big bottle where people could contribute to him.
It was the very first time (and may-be the last) in history to see roundnoses from the five National Railways together.
Apart from the five national railways, there were several roundnoses from Danish private operators and one from Sweden (in the colour scheme of Great Northern Railway of America), but they are all former Danish State Railways locos.
The Belgian 202020 was involved in a PFT/TSP excursion on 7th August and went to Luxembourg on that evening. On 12th August CFL 1805, 1604 and 202020 left behind NEG loco no. 3 to go to Koblenz in Germany. There they met the Hungarian 2761 017 that had come all the way from Budapest via Hegyeshalom (H), Salzburg (A) and Augsburg (D), in Germany hauled dead by a former Austrian diesel loco equipped with German Indusi.
From Koblenz onwards the train (CFL 1604 + TSP 202020 + MAV 2761 017 + Hungarian coach) was hauled by CFL 1805 (also equipped with Indusi, which was the reason that it was with them) via Hamburg and Niebüll and over the NEG line to Tønder in Denmark. This NEG line in northern Germany is in fact owned by CFL.
At the Danish border at Tønder CFL 1805 was not left behind, but was also taken all the way to Odense by DSB loco MZ 1401. The Luxemburg class 1800 and Belgian 5500 are in fact later developments of the roundnoses, built by AFB in Belgium; the Danish class MZ 1400 is also a later development of the NoHab roundnoses.
Apart from sponsoring by Klaus Korbacher and the Danish railway museum, the transport to Denmark was sponsored by CFL!!!
There were also guests from Norway and Sweden with no roundnose designs but locos produced by General Motors (7707 from Norway) or NoHab. The Norwegian and Swedish locos came by Stena Line rail ferry from Göteborg (Sweden) to Frederikshavn (Denmark).
Many thanks to all Danes, Luxembourgians, Belgians, Norwegians, Hungarians, Austrians, Swedes and Germans who made this great event possible!
Note that
DSB MY 1101 belongs to Danish Railway Museum
CFL 1604 belongs to Ministry of Culture Luxembourg
GM 7707 belongs to GM Gruppen Norway
NJ M11 is former DSB NoHab MX 1009, in a perfect blue-white outfit. The NJ is Nordjyske Jernbane, a Danish private operator with two lines: one from Hjørring to Hirtshals (for the ferries to Norway) and one from Frederikshavn to Skagen.
Lollands Jernbane (LJ) is often referred to as Lollandsbanen and is a private operator with a line from Nykøbing to Nakskov in southern Denmark. Nykøbing is on the mainline Hamburg - train ferry – Kopenhagen line. Both NJ and LJ run freight on the DSB network (open access).
The Hungarian NoHab’s are class M61, the one at Odense was designated 2761 017 because it is a departmental loco. It is former M61 017. There are also three museum M61’s left in Hungary.

Sell-Off of Open Wagons Type Eanos

By Henk Hartsuiker
In 1988 Talbot delivered 200 open cars to NS, the wagons had 4 axles and had an attractive sky blue livery. Among railway-enthusiasts they became known as ‘Eanos’ which is a reference to its type. The wagons were intended to replace the older 2-axle ‘E’ open wagons which were mainly used to transport scrap. Unfortunately the market for scrap transport collapsed at the time of delivery and didn’t improve much over the years so other employment had to be found. For several years they were used in the south of the country during the sugar beet harvest campaign which usually lasted from September to December. Long mixed sets of blue Eanos and brown E wagons used to run from Roermond and Nuth to a sugar factory in Roosendaal, often with an overall yellow Class 1300 or a ‘Dutch-liveried’ Class 1200 in charge. Sadly NS lost this work several years ago. Also around the time of delivery of the Eanos wagons Class 6400 began to enter service and at least one set of 10 empty Eanos wagons was hauled during training runs for the drivers of the new diesels.
From 1991 to 1994 a few were also used as transition wagons at both ends of sets of German iron ore wagons, which had automatic couplings. On the German side of the border these trains had a pair of Class 151 electrics in charge fitted with automatic couplings, on the Dutch side the Eanos wagons were added with ordinary couplings on one end and automatic couplings on the other so that Dutch locos could haul these sets as well. The fleet of wagons was used whenever there was work but was never really fully employed.
Coal workings into Belgium were another example of their use. Not surprisingly NS Sold 130 wagons in 1998. Twenty were sold to the only regular customer, scrap dealer Cronifer at Moerdijk*, who still uses them on a regular basis for workings to Genk in Belgium; the other 110 were sold to the DB. One Dutch example received a red NS Cargo livery after the split of NS into NS Reizigers and NS Cargo. The remaining 70 received a rim in 1999 to make them more suitable for the transportation of woodchips to Italy. With this rim adding to their height the wagons were redesignated as ‘Ealnos’. In May 2004 this work was lost which prompted RaiLion to sell the last 70 to DB Cargo who will remove the rims they received in 1999. Most of the wagons of the first batch sold to Germany now have a red DB Cargo livery whereas those of the last batch still carry all what is left of their once sky blue livery, now faded into light grey with many patches of rust.
Over the years several models in HO and N have appeared. I can recommend the HO model from Sachsenmodelle (26066) which is more accurate than other HO models which are often makeovers of other 4-axle open wagons. HO models of the E wagons mentioned here are available from Roco.

*It is remarkable that rolling stock sold by NS to a scrap dealer has not actually been scrapped but used by that same scrap dealer to run trains!

Dordrecht in the Snow, A DVD for £11.50

One of our members, Paul Hannant, who is also secretary of the Swiss Railways Society (yes he enjoys the highs and lows of European Railways) obtains DVD's and videos from a Dutch (REOS Beeldprodukties) supplier who specialises in Swiss material. REOS also produce Dutch material. Amongst the last batch for the Swiss Society was enclosed a batch for us to sell by sale or return. These are on sale at £11.50 with £2 of that going to our society funds. Those of us who have already bought a copy found it very good in quality, interest and value. It shows a considerable variety of freight and passenger trains at Dordrecht in the Snow, filmed between 07.30 and 11.30 from platforms 4 and 5 on 27th January 2004, running time is 55 minutes, though there is no commentary. It is highly recommended and can be obtained from Phil Colton at exhibitions or by ringing 01284 735457. (Their other Dutch title; Dordrecht van brug tot brug looks equally interesting from the preview images on the DVD. Their website address is www.re-os.nl, email info@re-os.nl. - Ed)

RAS Marketing Photolist

By Robert Palmer
I have copied some of the information from the sheet which has been sent to me in the hope that it may be of use to any members interested. To quote: -
Our photographic collection, which was acquired from the now closed ‘Photomatic’ firm in August 1991 by Brian Stephenson, myself (Graham Stacey) and the late Patrick Russell. We acquired only the British, Irish and Foreign railway subjects; the road and air subjects went to other buyers. Our acquisition included the copyright.
Due to the size of the collection, about 8500 subjects, it is not possible to maintain a complete stock, but at any one time some 60% of all subjects are available as postcards. Our negatives are a variety of mostly non-standard sizes, including many glass plates, and therefore need the services of a specialist printer to whom it is necessary to take negatives by hand, thus we cannot promise to complete any order in less than 7-8 weeks despite our best efforts.
Prices: - Postcards 70p plus 70p per order UK p&p, larger sizes (prices include p&p), 7"x5" - £3.50, 8½"x 6½" - £4.00, 10"x8" £5.00.
Non UK customers: - EEC (including Eire) please add 70p additional postage, other countries negotiable (please state whether seamail or airmail required).
Remittances should be made payable to RAS Marketing please. It is essential to quote the F prefix when ordering.(Other lists are available for many British railway companies etc, I am sure an s.a.e. to their address will bring a copy of their list of lists available – Ed.)